Jobs at risk after shops announce closures

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JOBS have been put at risk after it was announced that shops owned by collapsed retailer Peacocks will close.

Bonmarche stores in High Street, Cosham, and Meridian Centre, Havant, have been earmarked for closure after Sun European Partners bought the company from its owners Peacocks.

The two stores were not among 230 other branches that were snapped up American investment company Sun European Partners last month.

Up to 165 Bonmarche stores, which specialise in clothing for women over 50, will close. It is not known when the stores will close and how many jobs will be lost.

But a Bonmarche in High Street, Gosport, will remain open and all eight staff will keep their jobs.

Sarah Wilkinson, a spokeswoman for Bonmarche, said: ‘The demise of the local high street and rising costs has made trading very difficult. To ensure that Sun European Partners can be placed on sound economic footing it is anticipated that approximately 165 stores will close.’